Recovery of Dilute Acetic Acid by Esterification in a Packed Chemorectificatlon Column

The conversion of diluted acetic acid to methyl acetate by methanol esterification in a chemorectificatlon column packed with an acidic organic polymer catalyst was studied. The process was tested both experimentally and theoretically by use of computer simulation, variables such as reflux ratio, feed plate, feed rate, etc., were studied and a comparison of results was made. In general the results were compatible and consistent. The ability to achieve high conversions and pure methyl acetate even with dilute acetic acid as reactant was shown. In addition, the kinetics of the heterogeneous esterification process was studied. The reaction was found to be second order in acetic acid, zero order In methanol, and partially diffusion controlled.